Improvement in apparatus for introducing refining materials into molten metals



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Apparatus" for Introducing Refining Materials in Multan Metals No. 15,929, I Patented July 21.18 5.

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Apparatus for Introducing Refining Materials in Multan Metals.

N 55 92 Pat'ente dluly 21,1875.

, HI H III llllll'll IIHI II II II II IH III I N. PETERSPHOIQ-LITHQGRAPHEII. WASHINGTON. D C

EDWARD P. HUDSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TONATHANIEL HUGGINS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING REFINING MATERIALS INTO MOLTENMETALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,929, dated July 27,1875; application filed December 12,1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD P. HUDSON, of NewYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Apparatus for Introducing Materials into Molten Metalsfor Refining and Treating the Same; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings making part of this specification- Figure 1being a central longitudinal vertical section of thehearth of areverberatory furnace, and of my improved apparatus applied thereto;Fig. 2, a central transverse vertical section thereof 5 Fig. 3, a viewof the same from below.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in an apparatus, suitablyconstructed, for introducing into molten metals materials for refiningand treating the same from below, or into the liquid metal upward underthe surface thereof, whereby the difficulty of introducing such materials into and commingling them with the metals is obviated, and theprocess of refining and treating the metals is rendered practical, sure,and successful.

My improved apparatus is substantially represented in the accompanyingdrawings, and is described as follows:

In the drawings, A represents the hearth of a reverberatory furnace,preferably made deeper than usual, for bringing the molten metal thereoninto a more compact mass, in order to facilitate the treatment thereofwith the materials introduced. At or near the middle of the hearth A atube, B, is applied, projecting clownward therefrom and forming a closecontinuation thereof. The capacity of this tube is sufficient to containthe amount of refining ma terials desired or convenient to introduce atone time. The tube is open at top and bottom, and the lower end thereofterminates in a plane or even surface. Immediately under this tube, andtightly fitting beneath it, is situated a sliding plate, 0, of a widthsufficient to fully close the lower end of the tube, and to mount it onways D D, or in suitable guides, to direct and support it in its slidingmovements, and keep it close to the lower end of the said tube. In thissliding plate or carrier is located another tube or shell, E, of thesame diameter or transverse dimensions as the tube B, and of equalcapacity thereto, it being so located that it can be brought centrallybeneath thesaid tube B by the sliding plate in which it is mounted, andwhen so located its axis being in line with that of the said tube B,audits inner surfaces accurately conformed to those of the same tube,and forming a downward continuation thereof. The sliding plate Chas asliding movement forward and backward under the tube B, to,

convey the lower tube or shell E, mounted therein, beneath the said tubeB, as above set forth, and outward again from beneath the hearth of thefurnace to a position wherein the tube E can be conveniently filled withthe material to be used, or the tube or shell itself be removed from thesliding plate or carrier and again inserted or replaced by another tubeor shell of corresponding dimensions. In the tube or shell E is locateda piston. or follower, G, which can be depressed to the lower end of thetube for the purpose of filling the said tube with the materialemployed, and again be raised flush with the upper end of the tube fordischarging the contents upward into the tube B.

This piston is operated by means of a stem or rod, a, having rack-teethon one side, which gear into a pinion, b, on a shaft, H, which is turnedby hand or otherwise for the purpose; 7

or any equivalent means may be employed. In order that the shaft-pinionand piston-rack may remain in gear undisturbed while the tube E is movedbackward and forward in the sliding plate. or carrier 0, the said pinionis made to slide on its shaft H, being held from turning thereon by aninward projection in the eye of the pinion running in a groove, 0, inone side of the shaft, and the pinion is held in proper relation to therack by a stay-guide, (I, attached to the tube E, and acting also tokeep the rack in a central position, or other equivalent means may beused.

The sliding plate or carrier 0 receives its reciprocating movement underthe furnacetube B by means of a rack, f, thereon of a pinion, g, gearinginto the same, and of another pinion, h, on the shat't 'of the pinion-g,into which pinion h an endless screw, 2', on a shaft, I, works. Onturning the shaft I the requisite reciprocating movement of the carrierin its ways is produced. This or an equivalent devicefor moving the tubeE into position beneath the stationary tube B also holds it securely inthat position while operating the piston therein.

With this apparatus-any material previously reduced to the proper degreeof fineness or consistency may be introduced into liquid metal in afurnace below thetsurface of the metal, and there efi'ectually beemployed for refining the same.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The tube B, before thecharge of metal is placed in the furnace, is packed full and close withthe material to be introduced into the molten metal for refining. ortreating the same, the sliding plate 0, at the time, being drawnoutward, in order to form a close bottom to the tube, and allow a chargeof the' material to be introduced into the tube E, the material in afine state being tightly packed therein by pressure, if necessary; then,when the charge of metal is melted in the furnace, and is ready to betreated, the charged tube E is moved backward centrally beneath thefilled stationary tube B of the furnace, and the piston Gr is drivenupward, thereby forcing the charge of refining material fromv the tube Einto the tube B, and the charge previously contained in the latter tubeupward into the molten metal in the lower part orbeneath the surfacethereof, tobe there manipulated or employed for the purpose intended.The sliding plate 0 is then drawn. forward for recharging its tube E, orfor replacing it by another tube already charged, a sufficient number ofsuch tubes or shells being provided for the purpose, the previouslydelivered charge of the said tubeE remaining in and filling the tube B.The sliding plate 0 is again driven in, as before, and the process isrepeated as many times as required, the same or different refiningmaterials being introduced into the metal, as desired. The charge in thetube B, after the first filling through the furnace, may a terward becontinually replaced from the tube E, and always furnish a support-forthe metal in the furnace.

This apparatus is applicable to a wide range of uses in refining andtreating molten metals, particularly iron and steel, it'being in generalimpracticable or extremely difficult to introduce the materials employedby mixing or stirring into the surface of the molten metal.

Thus, with this apparatus, for instance, if the purpose is to carbonizecheap, white, and mottled iron to a No. 1 grade of iron, and,

at the same time, to refine it so as to make it equal in quality tocold-blast charcoal iron, pure carbonaceous material is introduced .bysufficient charges, the hydrocarbons and gases thereof assisting in therefining process,

while suitable fluxes may be introduced there- If the oxides areintroduced inthe same way. 7 The apparatus is applicable toreverberatory and other furnaces, and, particularly for simplecarbonization, it may be attached to a simple melting pot or receptacle.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An apparatus substantially as herein described, consisting essentiallyof a stationary charging-tube, B, attached to a furnace or melting-pot,a closing plate, 0, moving beneath the same in suitable waysD D, amovable charging tube or shell, E, and a piston or follower, Gr,arranged and operatingsubstan-' tially as set forth, for introducingmaterials into molten metals below the surface thereof, for refining andtreating the same, substantially as herein specified.

4 EDWARD P. HUDSON. Witnesses:

S. J. HUGGINS, D. O. GoNEY.

